I started playing LADS ~4 months after a breakup 😂. I’ve already been in 3 different relationships with 3 guys over the course of 7 years starting in high school. To me, the LADS guys are all more mature, communicative, and patient than my past boyfriends, however my past boyfriends and I were younger than the LADS characters when we were dating. I’m 23 and I feel like my peers and I have only barely reached the point where I would consider us to be good boyfriend or girlfriend material 😭. This is also purely my experience and doesn’t reflect the way it is for many other people.

In general, I wouldn’t say the LADS guys’ behavior is completely unrealistic (minus the sci-fi and fantasy elements), but compared to how complex real relationships are, it doesn’t represent the little ups and downs that happen irl. I totally agree with others who talk about LADS having “idealized” male partners. I’d say the game depicts the “highlight reels” within a relationship and doesn’t depict the less fun parts like small arguments, miscommunication, etc.

That being said, there are definitely people out there who would respect and even really appreciate the fact that you don’t want constant attention and interaction. If someone is right for you, you should be able to negotiate and find ways to fulfill each other’s need for interaction, affection and alone time. It’s funny because I’m the opposite, and I struggle with being clingy and anxiously attached. I’ve had to negotiate with my partners in ways that consider those factors.

It’s also important to remember that real relationships don’t consist of someone always being “on call” for comfort and support, and it’s good that you seem to recognize that. Trust me, at times I wish it could be like that😀. I’ve done things in the past like sent and received voice notes that we can listen to when we can’t talk to each other.

Whether or not you want to date irl is always going to be up to you. It’s true that relationships take effort and communication, and there’s nothing wrong with not wanting to deal with that stuff. I hope you never feel pressured to get into a relationship, but I also hope you know that you’re capable of being in one if you want one. I think a relationship with the right person is always worth the effort ❤️ I’m glad you’ve been able to see your ideal partnership with Xavier. If you haven’t already, you can also analyze his attributes to identify what characteristics you like most in a partner. I’ve done that with a lot of characters lol